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Updated: Aug 25, 2026

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Published on: January 26, 2024
Cerebral infarction in eclampsia
Gerda G Zeeman1, James L Fleckenstein, Diane M Twickler
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex, USA. g.g.zeeman@isala.nl
Objective:
This study was undertaken to characterize the neuroimaging findings of cerebral edema associated with eclamptic seizures by use of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Study Design:
During the 3-year period ending March 2002, 27 nulliparous women with eclampsia were evaluated with diffusion-weighted MRI and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping. Those with findings of restricted diffusion suggestive of cytotoxic edema underwent neuroimaging again 6 weeks post partum.
Results:
All but 2 of these 27 women (93%) had reversible vasogenic edema. Six were also found to have areas of cytotoxic edema consistent with cerebral infarction. Five of these 6 women had persistent imaging findings of infarction when studied post partum, however, without clinical neurologic deficits.
Conclusion:
The spectrum of cerebral lesions in eclampsia as seen with MRI varies from initially reversible areas of vasogenic edema that may progress to cytotoxic edema and infarction in up to a fourth of women.
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